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Under pressure from producers at home, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) is leaning strongly in that direction, judging from talks between her top staff and agriculture lobbyists Tuesday. And there’s been a flurry of activity since in anticipation of a fight when the Senate panel begins voting, possibly as early as next Thursday.

“Egg producers are struggling with a patchwork of regulations that vary from state to state, and having one uniform national standard is critically important to them,” said Cullen Schwarz, a Stabenow spokesman. “We’re working with stakeholders and Agriculture Committee members to find a solution to help keep American egg producers in business and avoid losing jobs in the industry.”

If she goes ahead, Stabenow would have strong backing from the Georgia-based United Egg Producers, the leading industry trade group which last year reached a compromise with the Humane Society after a rancorous set of battles at the state level.

Nonetheless, powerful pork and beef cattle lobbies are up in arms, fearing the precedent, they say, of Congress dictating housing for livestock. Just as important perhaps is their antipathy to giving the Humane Society a foot in the door on farm policy.

“We are not going to stand idly by and let on-farm production be dictated by the Humane Society of the United States,” said Chris Wall of the National Pork Producers Council.

Scott George, a Wyoming rancher and dairyman who now leads the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, told POLITICO that his organization would oppose the farm bill if the egg language were added. “This trumps all,” he said.

George said the precedent of Washington codifying rules for animal housing was his first concern. But he didn’t hide a deep-seated distrust for the Humane Society. “They want to end animal agriculture in America,” he said flatly. I do believe that.”

Indeed, the fight is most colored by this culture clash between these old agribusiness mainstays—including the American Farm Bureau — and the Humane Society, with its deep pockets and a telegenic, 47-year-old Yale-educated president, Wayne Pacelle.

Established in the mid-1950s, the society is still best known for its campaigns against puppy mills, bear baiting and steel leg-hold traps. But since Pacelle became president in 2004, its agenda has expanded to animal agriculture, using a combination of state ballot campaigns and corporate-level initiatives that have led major food companies — like McDonald’s — to insist on changes by the producers.

“When I came on, I told my board, `We must show mercy and decency for these animals,’ Pacelle said in an interview. “We’ve got a great mix of tools to drive different areas.”